Bulent Unal

Education:
Graduated from Çukurova University, School of Medicine in 1996. Completed specialization in General Surgery at Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital in 2001.

Academic and Professional Experience:
From 1996 to 1997, worked as a general practitioner at Rize Fındıklı Central Health Center. Between 1997 and 2001, served as an assistant in the Department of General Surgery at Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital. From 2001 to 2002, worked as a specialist/Professor at the same institution. Served as Chief Assistant in the Department of General Surgery from 2002 to 2007.

From 2007 to 2010, worked as an Associate Professor in the Department of General Surgery at İnönü University Faculty of Medicine. Between 2010 and 2015, continued as Associate Professor at the same department. In 2012, completed a minor specialty in Surgical Oncology at İnönü University Faculty of Medicine. From 2015 to 2017, served as Professor.

Currently, serves as the Head of the Department of General Surgery and Surgical Oncology at Florence Nightingale Hospital continuing academic and clinical work.

Education Abroad:

1. Completed a 10-month research and training program at the Surgical Oncology Clinic, Magee-Womens Hospital, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, United States, in 2008, as a National Cancer Institute Short-Term Scientist. Focus areas included sentinel node applications and ductoscopy training in breast cancer under the NCI Research Scholarship.
2. Completed a one-month Transplantation and Oncology Surgery training at the University of Giessen-Marburg, Germany, in 2010.

Master’s Theses Supervised:

• Keskin K., “Evaluation of Operative Hyperthyroidism Patients with SF-36 Quality of Life Scale,” Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, 2003.
• Aydın S., “Effects of TNFα Receptor Blocker (Infliximab) on Bacterial Translocation and Pancreatitis in Experimental Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis,” Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, 2005.
• Arslan M.Ş., “Analysis of the Perspective of Organ Transplantation in a Geographical Region where Liver Transplantation is Extensively Performed (The Case of Malatya Province),” 2018.

Foreign Languages:

• English – Interuniversity Board Foreign Language Exam (UDS) score: 71.250, December 2002.

Scientific Studies and Publications:

• Specialization Thesis: The Relationship Between Breast Cancer and Thyroid Pathologies, 2001.

Selected Articles and Papers:

• Authored numerous articles published in international refereed journals, including Nagoya Medical Journal, Journal of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, Journal of Surgical Oncology, and many others from 2001 through 2020.
• Research topics include breast cancer, colorectal carcinoma, hydatid disease, pancreatitis, sentinel lymph node biopsy, liver transplantation, surgical oncology, kidney transplantation, and other areas of general and oncologic surgery.
• Notable publications during professorship and associate professorship include studies on:
  • Lobular carcinoma in situ and ductoscopy in breast cancer (Breast Journal, 2010)
  • Screening for gastric cancer in liver transplant patients (Pakistan Journal of Medicine, 2010)
  • Acute traumatic diaphragmatic rupture (Surgery Today, 2011)
  • Living donor liver transplantation techniques and outcomes (Transplantation Proceedings, 2012–2015)
  • Predictive models for non-sentinel axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer (Journal of the American College of Surgeons, 2009)
  • Postoperative complications and surgical innovations in gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary surgery
• Proceedings Presented at International Scientific Meetings and Published in Proceedings
• Books / Activity List (Professorship and Before Associate Professorship)
• B1. Ünal B., Soran A., Koçer B., Ulaş M., Karabeyoğlu M., Bozkurt B., Cengiz Ö.,
  “The relation of thyroid volume with thyroidectomy complications,” 4th Annual Meeting European Society of Surgery, PP319, Krakow, Poland, December 3–6, 2000.
• B2. Koçer B., Bozkurt B., Ünal B., Karabeyoğlu M., Yıldırım O., Eroğlu A., Cengiz Ö.,
  “Do clinicopathologic parameters and prognosis differ in patients over 60 with colorectal cancer?” Joint Meeting of M.S.C.P and T.A.C.S and 9th Turkish National Congress of Colorectal Surgery, PP54, Antalya, Turkey, September 9–13, 2001.
• B3. Koçer B., Bozkurt B., Ünal B., Yıldırım O., Karabeyoğlu M., Eroğlu A., Cengiz Ö.,
  “Factors that affect relapse and survival in patients with colorectal cancer,” Joint Meeting of M.S.C.P and T.A.C.S and 9th Turkish National Congress of Colorectal Surgery, PP37, Antalya, Turkey, September 9–13, 2001.
• B4. Bozkurt B., Ünal B., Yıldırım O., Karabeyoğlu M., Eroğlu A., Koçer B., Cengiz Ö.,
  “The relationships between thyroid disorders and breast cancer,” Eurosurgery, Lisbon, Portugal, 2002.
• B5. Erel S., Koçer B., Yıldırım O., Bozkurt B., Karabeyoğlu M., Eroğlu A., Ünal B., Cengiz Ö.,
  “Nonoperative treatment of traumatic pancreatic pseudocyst: Unusual soccer injury,” Turkish Journal of Trauma & Emergency Surgery, 5th European Congress of Trauma and Emergency Surgery, Ulusal Travma Dergisi 2002; Supplement 8(4): OP410, Istanbul, October 1, 2002.
• B6. Bozkurt B., Özdemir B., Koçer B., Ünal B., Yıldırım O., Cengiz Ö.,
  “The operative approach to traumatic injuries of the duodenum,” 14th World Congress of International Association of Surgeon, Gastroenterologists, PP29.5, Zurich, September 9–12, 2004.
• B7. Koçer B., Solak C., Özel E., Bozkurt B., Ünal B., Yıldırım O., Cengiz Ö.,
  “Predicting mortality and morbidity of patients operated on for perforated peptic ulcer,” 14th World Congress of International Association of Surgeon & Gastroenterology, Zurich, November 2004.
• B8. Yıldırım O., Solak C., Koçer B., Ünal B., Bozkurt B., Aksaray S., Cengiz Ö.,
  “The role of serum inflammatory markers in acute appendicitis and success at preventing negative laparotomy,” 14th World Congress of the International Association of Surgeon, Gastroenterologists, PP34, Zurich, September 9–12, 2004.
• B9. Ünal B., Koçer B., Bozkurt B., Yıldırım O., Özel E., Altun B., Dolapçı M., Cengiz Ö.,
  “Fournier gangrene: A review of 26 cases approaches to diagnosis and treatment,” International Surgical Week, PP2877, Durban, South Africa, August 21–25, 2005.
• B10. Bozkurt B., Özel E., Hüner T., Karabeyoğlu M., Ünal B., Dolapcı M., Cengiz Ö.,
  “The changing approach to traumatic injury of the duodenum: Comparing two decades’ results, effecting factors on morbidity and mortality,” International Surgical Week, PP2663, Durban, South Africa, August 21–25, 2005.
• B11. Koçer B., Altun B., Balcı M., Sürmeli S., Ünal B., Karabeyoğlu M., Eroğlu A., Cengiz Ö.,
  “Serum C-reactive protein and interleukin–6 reflect disease status of gastric cancer,” 15th World Congress of the International Association of Surgeons and Gastroenterologists (and Oncologists), HepatoGastroenterology, Suppl. I, 52, T05-PP14, Prague, September 7–10, 2005.
• B12. Karabeyoğlu M., Koçer B., Bozkurt B., Ünal B., Dolapçı M., Cengiz Ö.,
  “Quality of life in patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair: Non-mesh suture repair vs. Lichtenstein procedure,” International Surgical Week, Durban, South Africa, August 21–25, 2005.
• B13. Koçer B., Yazihan N., Sürmeli S., Ünal B., Aksaray S., Cengiz Ö., Ataoğlu H., Soran A.,
  “VEGFC/D ratio is an important predictive factor to determine lymph node metastasis in breast cancer,” Annals of Oncology, Vol. 17, Supp. 9: ESMO Congress, Istanbul, September 29–October 3, 2006.
• B14. Aydın S., Isik A.T., Ünal B., Özel E., Gonlusen C., Mas R., Cengiz Ö.,
  “Is there any difference in thyroidectomy results and complications between elderly and younger age groups?” European Union Geriatric Medicine Society, The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, Vol. 10, No. 4, 2006.
• B15. Koçer B., Yazihan N., Sürmeli S., Ünal B., Aksaray S., Cengiz Ö., Ataoğlu H., Soran A.,
  “The importance of serum IGF-I and VEGF-C/D ratio in lymph node metastasis,” Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 29th Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, December 14–17, Vol. 100(1), P1012, 2006.
• B16. Gür A.S., Ünal B., Johnson R., Ahrendt G., Bonaventura M., Soran A.,
  “The predictive probability of four different breast cancer nomograms for non-sentinel axillary lymph node metastasis in positive sentinel lymph node biopsy,” 31st San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, OP204, San Antonio, USA, 2008.
• B17. Ünal B., Karabeyoğlu M., Hüner T., Canbay E., Eroğlu A., Yıldırım O., Dolapcı M., Bilgihan A., Cengiz Ö.,
  “Ethyl pyruvate protects colonic anastomosis from ischemia-reperfusion injury,” 18th World Congress of the International Association of Surgeons, Gastroenterologists and Oncologists, HepatoGastroenterology, Suppl. I, Istanbul, Turkey, October 8–11, 2008.
• B18. Gür A.S., Ünal B., Bonaventura M., Johnson R., Soran A.,
  “Can nomograms predict non-sentinel lymph node (NSLN) metastasis following neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer?” Breast Cancer Symposium: Integrating Emerging Science into Clinical Practice, Washington, DC, September 5–7, 2008.
• B19. Ünal B., Gür A.S., Beriwal S., Johnson R., Ahrendt G., Bonaventura M., Soran A.,
  “Predicting the burden of axillary disease in breast cancer patients with a positive sentinel node,” 31st San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, PP1010, San Antonio, USA, 2008.
• B20. Comert B., Isik A.T., Aydın S., Bozoglu E., Ünal B., Deveci S., Mas N., Çınar E., Refik Mas M.,
  “Combination of allopurinol and hyperbaric oxygen therapy: A new treatment in experimental acute necrotizing pancreatitis,” 39th Annual Meeting of the American Pancreatic Association, PP466, Chicago, USA, 2008.
• B21. Soran A., McKolanis J., Ünal B., Gür A.S., Finn O.J.,
  “The importance of MUC1 and Cyclin B1 antibodies in nipple aspiration fluid (NAF): Preliminary results,” Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation 6th International Symposium on the Intraductal Approach to Breast Cancer, P62, Santa Monica, USA, 2009.
• B22. Soran A., Gür A.S., Ünal B., Edington H.,
  “Autofluorescence ductoscopy for the early detection of breast cancer,” Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation 6th International Symposium on the Intraductal Approach to Breast Cancer, P48, Santa Monica, USA, 2009.
• B23. Gür A.S., Ünal B., Özbek U., Özmen V., Aydogan F., Gokgoz S., Güllüoğlu B., Aksaz E., Özbaş S., Başkıran S., Koyuncu A., Soran A.,
  “Validation of breast cancer nomograms for predicting the non-sentinel lymph node after a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy in a multicenter study: Protocol MF08-01,” American Society of Breast Disease, 33rd Annual Symposium, OP8, Chicago, USA, 2009.
• B24. Kirimlioglu V., Yılmaz S., Yılmaz M., Kayaalp C., Isik B., Ünal B., Krimlioglu H.,
  “Early biliary complications in 128 consecutive living donor liver transplant recipients performed in one year: A new surgical technique,” 15th Annual Congress of the International Liver Transplantation Society, New York, NY, July 8–11, 2009.

International Book Chapters

1. Gur, A.S., Ünal, B., Soran, A., Edington, H. Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer, Chapter 16, in Textbook of Surgical Oncology of The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, ed. Davit Bartlett, Jaypee Publications, USA, 2011.
2. Ünal, B., Gur, A.S., Soran, A., Edington, H. Melanoma, Chapter 17, in Textbook of Surgical Oncology of The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Jaypee Publications, USA, 2011.
3. Soran, A., Gur, A.S., Ünal, B., Bonaventura, M. Noninvasive and Benign Breast Tumors, Chapter 19, in Textbook of Surgical Oncology of The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Jaypee Publications, USA, 2011.
4. Soran, A., Ünal, B., Grahovac, T. Surgical Management of Inflammatory Breast Cancer, Chapter 19, in Breast Disease Management and Therapies, Springer, USA, 2016.

National / Turkish Book Chapters

1. Ünal, B. Breast Health and Breast Cancer Prevention, Chapter 73, 300-303, 2012.
2. Ünal, B. Esophageal Variceal Bleeding, National Surgery Association E-Book, 2013.
3. Ünal, B. Approach to the Patient with Ascites, National Surgery Association E-Book, 2013.

Translations

1. Ünal, B., Pişkin, T. Taylor Family Medicine Handbook, in Benign Lesions and Diseases of the Breast, Ed. Okay Başak, Serpil Aydın Demirağ, 2011; 484-493.
2. Pişkin, T., Ünal, B. Principles of Schwartz Surgery, in Transplantation, Ed. Burinicardi, Ozmen, 2016; 334-340.

Articles in National Refereed Journals

Before Associate Professorship

• Key examples:
  • Bozkurt, B., Ünal, B., Cengiz, Ö. “Is There a Relationship Between Breast Cancer and Thyroid Pathologies?” Ankara Surgery Journal, 18, 62–69 (2003).
  • Ünal, B., Bozkurt, B., Koçer, B., Karabeyoğlu, M., Özel, E., et al. “Obstructive, hyperthyroid giant amyloid goiter requiring emergency thyroidectomy: A case report”, Clinical Sciences and Doctor, 11, 151–154 (2005).
  • [Include a few more high-impact examples or clinical studies as desired]

During Professorship / Associate Professorship

• Key examples:
  • Dirican, A., Ateş, M., Ünal, B., et al. “Diaphragmatic injuries due to stab wounds: analysis of 18 cases.” National Journal of Surgery, 26, 99–102 (2010).
  • Ünal, B., Soran, A. “Case Discussion: Approach to a 56-year-old breast cancer case.” Journal of Breast Health, 8, 160–162 (2012).
  • [Include additional impactful publications]

 Proceedings / National Scientific Meetings

Before Associate Professorship

• Ö. Cengiz, Coşkun, F., Bozkurt, B., Koçer, B., Ünal, B. “The role of mast cells in abdominal adhesion formation.” National Surgery Congress, İzmir, 1998.
• Koçer, B., Karabeyoğlu, M., Ünal, B., et al. “Prognostic importance of serum albumin and cholesterol level in colorectal cancer patients.” National Surgery Congress, Antalya, 2002.

During Professorship / Associate Professorship

• Ünal, B., Ölmez, A., Aydın, C., Pişkin, T. “The relationship between gland weight and complications in total thyroidectomy.” 9th Medical-Surgical Endocrinology Postgraduate Training Course, Antalya, 2010.
• Dirican, A., Yılmaz, M., Ünal, B., et al. “Factors affecting survival in traumatic diaphragmatic ruptures.” National Surgery Congress, Ankara, 2010.

Membership of Professional Organizations

• Turkish Surgical Association
• Ankara Surgery Association
• Ankara Breast Diseases Association
• Federation of Breast Associations
• Association of Gastroenterology Surgery
• Endoscopic & Laparoscopic Surgery Association
• American Society of Breast Cancer
• International Association of Surgeons, Gastroenterologists, and Oncologists
• Surgical Oncology Association – Member of the Board of Directors